AT MREKO’S VILLAGE. 35 to them by kneeling servants, and they were in consequence a little excited. Still, they showed themselves entirely at their ease, drank their coffee, and—now comes the point—they begged me to remain here a few days, Mountains of bananas, piles of eges, rivers of wine, were held out to me as inducements; and when I at last, half laughingly, half angrily, consented, their joy knew no bounds. The whole company, flourishing _ their spears aloft, danced round me, and the pouring rain -alone put an end to their expressions of gratitude. The sound of the mandinda (a wooden harmonica), and the songs of the women in honour of their lord and master, filled the air until late into the night.

For eight days it had rained incessantly. ‘The rain had long since ceased between Lado and Fatiko. Between Fatiko ‘and Mrili (3° 171° 35’ N. lat.), perhaps, an occasional shower still fell; but here there was rain every day, and frequently from three to four times in the course of twentyfour hours.

I was regularly besieged in my tent, especially by women, who came in great numbers to look at me. Nevertheless I cannot complain of actual molestation, for the people were well behaved. I also met here an old acquaintance, Matongali Mbazi, who had visited me in Kabréga’s capital, and who had heard in his village, which is situated about four hours away, that I was here. He now came to greet me, and to bring me a sheep. He himself belongs to the Wahuma race, who are entrusted with the care of the herds. Several of their women came to me to-day; they are characterised by their pretty oval orthognathous faces, rather well-developed ears, and beautiful large eyes, varying in colour from light brown to yellowish grey. The girls of this race are highly thought of in this country. It would be exceedingly interesting to discover if the Wahtma possess the remnant of a language of their own, and to what origin this remnant points.

A long break in the rainfall permitted the crescent of the new moon (December 6th) to be seen, and it was greeted by salvos of guns and the beating of all the drums in the country. _The atmosphere was so clear that both the dark part of the moon and the illuminated rim were visible. I have never in